Method of supervising the function of a milking machine, and a milking machine

Abstract

In a milking machine having a teatcup (3) with a teatcup liner (6) and a pulsation chamber (7), the abrupt movement of the teatcup liner (6) when the teatcup liner moves to an open or closed position is sensed. If the sensed movement does not fulfill a predetermined condition, a malfunction is signaled.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of supervising the function of a milking machine having a teatcup with a teatcup liner and a pulsation chamber, comprising applying a milking vacuum to the interior of the teatcup liner and a pulsating vacuum to the pulsation chamber so that the teatcup liner cyclically moves between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position, including the steps of: sensing the movement of the teatcup liner when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions, and   signalling a malfunction if said sensed movement does not fulfill a predetermined condition.     
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensing step comprises detecting the value of a teatcup liner movement responsive variable when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions, and the malfunction is signalled if the detected value is outside a predetermined range. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the variable is the pulsating vacuum in the pulsation chamber. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said sensing step comprises detecting the point of time from the beginning of at least one of successive pulsation cycles when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions, and the malfunction is signalled if the detected point of time is outside a predetermined interval. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said point of time is detected in response to the value of a teatcup liner movement responsive variable, when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the variable is the volume of the pulsation chamber. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 4, wherein the teatcup comprises a shell enclosing the teatcup liner, the pulsation chamber being defined between the teatcup liner and the shell and that the variable is the distance between a point fixed relative to the shell and the teatcup liner. 
     
     
       8. A milking machine comprising a teatcup with a teatcup liner and a pulsation chamber, a vacuum source for generating a milking vacuum in the interior of the teatcup liner and a pulsator provided to alternately connect the pulsation chamber to the atmosphere and to said vacuum source for generating a pulsating vacuum in the pulsation chamber to produce a pulsating movement of the teatcup liner between a substantially open position and a substantially closed position, including a sensor provided for sensing the movement of the teatcup liner when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions, and   an electronic processing unit adapted to signal a malfunction in response to said sensor sensing a movement of the teatcup liner which does not fulfill a predetermined condition.     
     
     
       9. A milking machine according to claim 8, wherein that the electronic processing unit comprises detecting means to detect the value of a teatcup liner movement responsive variable when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions, a comparing means to compare the detected value with a predetermined range and a signaling means provided to give a signal when the detected value is outside the predetermined range. 
     
     
       10. A milking machine according to claim 8, wherein that the electronic processing unit comprises detecting means to detect the point of time from the beginning of at least one of successive pulsation cycles when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions, a comparing means to compare the detected point of time with a predetermined interval and a signaling means provided to give a signal when the detection point of time is outside the predetermined interval. 
     
     
       11. A milking machine according to claim 10, wherein that the electronic processing unit comprises recording means connected to the sensor and provided to record the value of a teatcup liner movement responsive variable when the teatcup liner abruptly moves to one of said open and closed positions and in that the detecting means is provided to detect the point of time in response to the recording means recording said value of said variable. 
     
     
       12. A milking means according to claim 8, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor for sensing the pulsating vacuum in the pulsation chamber. 
     
     
       13. A milking machine according to claim 8, wherein the sensor is a flow meter for sensing the change of the volume of the pulsation chamber. 
     
     
       14. A milking machine according to claim 8, wherein the teatcup comprises a shell enclosing the teatcup liner, the pulsation chamber being defined between the shell and the teatcup liner and that the sensor is a distance measuring device for sensing the distance between a point fixed relative to the shell and the teatcup liner.